- treating each person as an individual;
- respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and
- supporting service users rights to control their lives and make informed
- respecting and maintaining the dignity and privacy of service users;
- promoting equal opportunities for service users and carers;
- respecting diversity and different cultures and values
wishes of both service users and carers;
choices about the service they receive;
Case Study
Steffan is a domiciliary care worker who looks after Mr David Edwards in his own home, visiting Mr Edwards twice daily to attend to his personal needs. Mr Edwards is a very private man who requested a male carer as he felt more comfortable with a man in his home.
Unfortunately Mr Edwards’ health has deteriorated and soon he will have to move into residential care. He has no surviving family to support him in the move and he is very anxious about what to expect and how he will be treated and is concerned about mixing with other residents in a communal sitting room as he much prefers his own company and enjoys listening to the radio.
Steffan has become increasingly aware of Mr Edwards anxiety and with the support of his manager visited the care home Mr Edwards’s social worker has recommended. Steffan was able to reassure Mr Edwards that he would have a private room with this own bathroom and would be able to take his own possessions including his radio and books. Steffan took some photographs to show Mr Edwards what the home look like and was able to tell him that there were male care workers who would be able to support Mr Edwards in his personal care.
This eased Mr Edwards’ anxiety somewhat but he was still concerned that his health would deteriorate to the extent that he would not be able to tell the carers about how he liked to be looked after. Steffan thought it would be a good idea to write down Mr Edwards’ preferences – what he liked to be called, that he preferred to receive personal care from a male carer, that he liked listening to the Archers on the radio at 2pm every day, his favourite newspaper and his favourite rugby team and how he liked listening to the rugby results on Radio Wales on a Saturday afternoon.
Steffan and Mr Edwards wrote this together and Mr Edwards will take it with him when the time comes for him to move to residential care and Steffan has promised to help Mr Edwards settle in at his new home.
- How do you think that meets the first code of practice?
- Which particular elements of the code have been applied?
- Can you give any examples from your daily work that meet this particular code of practice?
